If you know these 15 EVERYDAY phrases, your English is AMAZING!

Hello, lovely students, and welcome  back to English with Lucy. I'm very  

excited about today's lesson because  I'm going to test your English fluency.

Today, we're going to discuss  15 really common phrases that  

proficient English speakers use daily.

But I'm not just going to give  you a list of phrases. No,  

we're going to do it in the form of a quiz.

I will give you part of a sentence  with a missing word or 2, a gap,

and you'll have a few seconds  to try to complete it.

Then I'll explain the full phrase and  how to use it naturally in conversation.

This way, you're not just  memorising a list of phrases,  

you're learning how to use them in  context and really engaging your brain.

This will help you to remember  the phrases long-term.

I've also got 2 really exciting  things to share with you. First,  

I've created a free downloadable PDF to  go with this lesson. It's packed with  

lots more examples and extra exercises  to help you practise these phrases.

I've also added 15 extra phrases.

There are also 15 additional phrases  in that PDF for you to learn.

If you would like to download that, all  you have to do is click on the link in  

the description box or scan that QR code  there, enter your name and email address,  

choose your level and the PDF will  arrive directly in your inbox.

And after that, you've joined my free PDF club,  you will automatically receive my free weekly PDFs  

alongside my news, course updates and offers.  It's free, you can unsubscribe at any time.

The second thing I want to mention is that  I've developed a Vocabulary Level Test!

This is a completely free resource that  you can use to work out where you are on  

your learning journey and what to focus on next.

When you take this test, I will  send your result via email.

Your result can be anything from A1 all  the way down to C2 that is the top-level.

The link is in the description box, and again,  I've left a QR code for you to scan—just there.

Okay, let's focus now on the 15  phrases I'm about to teach you.

If you get most of these right, it means  you are well on your way to fluency.

And don't worry if you don't know all of  them, this is a fantastic way to start!

Let's begin with number 1!

'In _, I realise I should have  studied harder for that exam.'

Take a few seconds to think  about how we could fill that gap.

The answer is 'hindsight'. 'In hindsight,  

I realise I should have  studied harder for that exam.'

We use the phrase 'in hindsight'  to talk about looking back at  

a situation and understanding it  better now than we did at the time.

It combines 'hind' meaning 'behind' or  'back' and 'sight' meaning 'seeing'.  

It's like saying 'I see clearly when I look back.'

Okay, keep note of your scores  because I'll ask you to share  

them at the end. Let's move on to number 2.

'Can you send me the files before 5 pm? _ do!'

Have you got it?

I'll give you 5 seconds.

The answer is 'will'. 'Will do'! Saying 'will do'  

is a short and an informal way of saying  'I'll do it' or 'I'll take care of it'.

It's fun and it's casual, and I  use it about 15 times a day—'Yep,  

will do, will do. Don't worry. Will do.'

Now, you might also hear 'can do', 'can do'.

If you said 'can do', I will  also give you the point. Okay,  

moving on to number 3. I need  you to fill in both blanks here.

'You can trust her - she knows _ _  when it comes to organising events.'

I'll give you 5 seconds.

If you need a hint. Both words start with 'w'.

Okay, the missing words here are  'what's what'. 'You can trust  

her - she knows what's what when  it comes to organising events.'

So, this is a bit of a strange one, but  we say someone knows 'what's what' to  

mean they understand the important facts  or are very knowledgeable about something.

It sounds far more natural  than saying something like:  

'She is quite knowledgeable  on the subject of etc.'

Now, let's move on to number 4.

These next 3 phrases are quite fun.

Here we are: 'Are you finished  with that report? More or _.'

Take a few seconds.

The answer is 'less'. 'More or less'.  Now, this is a really common expression.  

We use it instead of saying 'almost', 'not  quite' or 'approximately'. 'More or less'.

It's particularly useful when you want to  soften your reply of not having something ready.

Rather than saying—'No, I haven't finished.  You could say—'Oh, I'm more or less finished.'

Are you ready for number 5?

'I've been picking up a few freelance  projects here and _. Nothing super steady.'

Take a few minutes.

Actually, don't take minutes—take a few seconds.

It's 'here and there'. 'Here and  there'. We use 'here and there' to  

describe something that happens randomly  or irregularly, without a fixed plan.

It suggests an occasional occurrence  rather than something consistent

and it can also be used more literally to mean  'in various places' or 'all around'. For example:  

'The dog's toys were scattered  here and there about the room.'

Okay, number 6, let's see if you've picked  up on that pattern yet. Here's your sentence:

'The journey to the village will take  an hour, _ or take a few minutes.'

Have a think.

The missing word is 'give'.  'Give or take a few minutes.'

We use this phrase when we're estimating  time, amounts or measurements,

it means approximately or  plus or minus a small amount.

It's an expression that helps  you sound positively fluent!

So, we have 'more or less', 'here  and there' and 'give or take'.

These are all used when we want  to be vague about something.

They're very useful!

Okay, number 7,

I need 2 words this time. 'Hey Mum, can Jamal  and I go to a concert tonight? It starts at 11  

pm. That's absolutely _ of the _. It's a  school night.' Okay, take your time here.

Okay, here are the answers—'out' and 'question'.  'That's absolutely out of the question.'

This is a strong, emphatic way of saying  

'absolutely not'. Or just giving a firm 'no'.  'That is out of the question. No, you may not.'

It's much more forceful than just saying 'no'.  It shows that there is no room for debate or  

negotiation, and it's a great expression for when  you want to shut down any argument straight away.

Okay, we're over half way through  here. Let's take a look at number 8.

'I need to buy a new laptop. Speaking  of _, how's your new MacBook?'

Take a few seconds.

The answer is 'which'.

'I need to buy a new laptop. Speaking of which,  

how's your new MacBook?' So, 'speaking of  which' is a fabulous transition phrase.

It helps us to smoothly change topic or  

add to a topic. When something  reminds us of a related point.

It's much more natural than  suddenly jumping to a new subject.

And you can find lots more examples of transition  

phrases in the PDF. QR code  there. Link in the description.

Number 9. Let's see how you do with  this one. We have 2 gaps to fill. '_

get me _, I love chocolate, but  that cake was way too sweet.'

Take a few seconds.

We need 'don't' and 'wrong'. 'Don't  get me wrong, I love chocolate,  

but that cake was way too sweet.' So,  'don't get me wrong' is a lovely phrase  

we might use when we think someone  might misunderstand what we're saying

or we want to soften something  that might upset someone.

We often use it just before we're about to say  

something that might sound  negative or controversial.

'Don't misunderstand me.' 'Don't get me wrong.'

So, how are you doing so far?  Are you feeling pretty fluent?

I hope you're counting your scores,  I'd love you to share them at the end.

Let's move on to number 10 now.

This is another expression I  use absolutely every single day.

One gap here.

'How's your first day at  work going? So far, so _.'

The missing word is 'good'. 'So far, so good.'

So, this is a cautiously optimistic way of  saying that things are going well at the moment,  

though you might be holding your breath a bit.

You know that there's still a way to  go, but everything's going well so far.

Okay, number 11, let's see if you  know what 2 words we need here.

'I know you're torn about moving abroad.  For what _ _, I think you'd really thrive  

there - you've always adapted to new  situations easily.' Have a few seconds.

Ready? We need—'it's worth.' 'For what  it's worth.' 'For what it's worth,  

I think you'd really thrive there…'

So, 'for what it's worth' is a lovely, humble way  to share your thoughts or opinions on a matter  

and we often use it when we want to offer  our opinion without coming across as pushy,  

or when we're not entirely sure that  what we're saying is relevant or useful.

It's almost like saying 'My  opinion isn't everything,  

but in case it's worth something to  you, I'm going to give it to you.'

'For what it's worth.'

Okay, number 12. Fill in the blank  with a word starting with 'm'. 'Her  

reaction to the election results was  definitely a bit _.' Have a think.

We need 'much' here. 'Her reaction  was definitely a bit much.'

'A bit much' is how we politely say that something  was over the top, unreasonable or went too far.

It's softer than saying 'that was ridiculous'.  Instead, we say 'that was a bit much'.

And here's our next one, number 13.

You need a three letter word.

Okay, here it is. 'I've got a fair _ of  work to do this week.' Take a few secs.

The missing word is 'bit'. 'B-i-t'. 'I've  got a fair bit of work to do this week.'

So, 'a fair bit' is a wonderfully  British way of saying 'quite a lot'.

It's not in our British nature to  come right out and say that we are  

buried in work. So we prefer the  softer, more polite—'a fair bit'.

We like to overstate things by understating them.

If you catch my drift.

Okay, penultimate one—the second to last, number  14. I'm going to need 2 words in this one. Ready?

'Oh no, I spilt water on  your book! Don't worry! No _.

Take some time.

You should have said 'harm done'.  'Don't worry! No harm done.'

This is one of my go to phrases to  reassure someone that everything is fine,  

and their actions haven't caused serious  damage. There's nothing to worry about.

It's particularly useful when someone is  feeling embarrassed about a minor mishap,  

and you want to put them at ease quickly.

Also, did you notice the spelling  and pronunciation of 'spilt'?

In British English we tend to spell it like  this—'s-p-i-l-t' and pronounce it /spɪlt/.

In American English they tend to lean towards  'spilled' and spell it 's-p-i-l-l-e-d'.

Sometimes, when I show words with  the British spelling, I get accused  

of misspelling things in my videos, but  I assure you it is a correct version.

Okay, last one, number 15. 'How _ you  didn't tell me about this sooner?'

The missing word is 'come'. 'How come  you didn't tell me about this sooner?'

'How come' is a friendly, casual way  of asking 'why'. 'How come?' 'Why?' 

It's much softer than demanding—'Why didn't  you?' 'Why' can sometimes sound a bit accusatory.

'How come' feels more relaxed and natural?

Okay, so how many phrases out of the  15 did you know or guess correctly?

If you manage to complete most of them, you  are well on your way to English fluency.

And don't forget to download the  PDF that goes with this lesson,

I've included 15 additional phrases  that you really ought to know,

phrases that we use nearly every day.

It's also full of lots of extra examples and  

I've included some exercises to help  reinforce what you've just learnt.

You will find the link in the description down  below or you can scan the QR code just there. And  

if you haven't taken my free English Vocabulary  Level Test yet, why stop here? Take it now.

You've done one test, you can do another.

It only takes a few minutes  and it will show you exactly  

where you are on your English vocabulary journey.

I will send you your results  via email. Scores range from  

A1 all the way down to C2—that's the top score.

The link is also in the description  box and another QR code there for you.

Thank you so much for watching this  lesson. I really hope you enjoyed  

it! I hope you learnt something  and I'll see you in the next one!

Muah!